We have witnessed plenty of sad affairs inside the ring over the years, over the decades. Muhammad Ali being badly beaten by Larry Holmes instantly springs to mind as a vivid example, as does the more recent Manny Pacquiao vs. Oscar De La Hoya beatdown. But perhaps one of the gloomiest and hard-to-watch fights that ever took place in the sport is the one that happened exactly 75 years ago.
The great, beloved Joe Louis, who had ruled as heavyweight king from 1937 to 1949 but had been forced back into the ring in an effort to pay off his back taxes, faced a close-to-peaking Rocky Marciano. Louis, aged 37 and no longer the masterful “Brown Bomber” he had once been, climbed into the ring at Madison Square Garden to face a 27-year-old Marciano.
Joe returned to the squared circle after having retired as champion in the summer of 1948, with the intention to “relax and play a lot of golf.” But Louis, ageing and balding, had lost to Ezzard Charles in his initial comeback bout. Now, having picked up eight wins since the decision loss to Charles, Louis met “The Rock.”
Marciano was perfect at 37-0 with 32 KO wins, and he was hungry for the world crown. Marciano greatly admired Louis, yet he had no choice but to fight him. A big crowd had paid to see the fight, but most fans would leave the arena in a depressed state, with Marciano himself shedding tears over what happened.
Louis, faded but still courageous, actually won a couple of rounds, his legendary left jab serving him well. But Rocky was strong as a bull and he would not be denied. Steadily, Marciano wore Louis down, his sheer physical prowess along with the punishing power he carried in both fists proving too much for this version of Louis.
The end came in stunning fashion in round eight. Marciano dropped Louis with a hefty left hook to the head. Louis bravely hauled himself up, but he was soon to be put out of his misery in brutal fashion. Wasting no time, “The Brockton Blockbuster” slammed a monster right hand into Louis’ head—the bomb soon to be famous the world over as the “Suzy Q” – sending Louis through the ropes and onto the apron. It was ghastly to see the great former champion laid out in such a way.
Marciano had earned his shot at new ruler Jersey Joe Walcott, who had taken the title from Charles in the final bout of their hard-fought rivalry, and Rocky would soon score another, even more memorable, far more celebrated knockout to become king. Louis never boxed again, his efforts at pleasing the IRS continuing to torture him for some time.
Louis never came back to fight Marciano, or Charles, for glory; he simply had no choice. Joe needed the money. As it is, Louis was only ever stopped by two men: Marciano and, before he was world champion, Max Schmeling.
